Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

DOI

10.3354/meps11143

Publication Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Volume

522

Pages

67-77

Abstract

We evaluated the seasonal contribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic diazotrophy to the total dinitrogen (N2) fixation in the photic zone of a pelagic station in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. N2 fixation rates were highest during a Trichodesmium bloom in winter (0.7 nmol N l-1 d-1), decreased 7-fold 1 wk later throughout the upper 200 m (~0.1 nmol N l-1) d-1), and were significantly coupled with both primary and bacterial productivity. N2 fixation rates were generally higher in the upper 200 m (~0.4 nmol N l-1) d-1)) during the thermally stratified summer and were correlated solely with bacterial productivity. Experimental enrichment of seawater by phosphorus (P) enhanced bacterial productivity and N2 fixation rates during both seasons by 3- to 5-fold. Moreover, during the stratified season, experimental amendments to seawater applying a combination of the photosynthetic inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and a mixture of amino acids increased both bacterial productivity and N2 fixation rates. Our findings from the northern Gulf of Aqaba indicate that in the photic zone, a shift occurs in the diazotrophic community from phototrophic and heterotrophic populations in winter, including the cyanobacteria Trichodesmium, to predominantly heterotrophic diazotrophs in summer. These heterotrophic diazotrophs may be both carbon and P limited as illustrated by their response to additions of P and amino acids.

Original Publication Citation

Rahav, E., Herut, B., Mulholland, M.R., Belkin, N., Elifantz, H., & Berman-Frank, I. (2015). Heterotrophic and autotrophic contribution to dinitrogen fixation in the Gulf of Aqaba. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 522, 67-77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps11143

ORCID

0000-0001-8819-189X (Mulholland)

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